Quick question about markers

demotlj

This may be a dumb question but ....

On most digital art programs, there are markers that are semi-transparent so that every time you go over them, they get darker. Is there a real world equivalent to that? It would be great to have one light gray marker that gets darker with each pass over to do value studies without having to have a dozen different shades of markers.

Teju Abiola

In my experience, many alcohol based markers (Prismacolor/Copics), and even some ink-based markers (like the Faber Castel Pitt Markers) do that to some degree. They aren't totally opaque so with every successive layer they get darker until they reach a solid mass tone. You would probably need a 20%-40% marker I'd think and it could also depend on the porosity of the paper too. You could also try putting watered down ink in a waterbrush and doing layers with that?

robgale

@demotlj Just to throw in my limited experience with markers, and echo what @Teju-Abiola said. To some degree, I've found that you can do this with markers, but it never works quite the same as with digital, the light colored markers are a good start, but adding successive layers only goes so far into being dark. You could use light markers and switch to progressively darker markers, which would probably yield nicer looking results. It's not exactly the same, but it kind of achieves a similar working feel. One of the problems I have is that when you go over the same area several times with the same marker, the paper can get really wet there and it tends to look overworked.

That being said, I'd love to hear if anyone else who has more experience with markers has any good insights.

sigross

@demotlj Yes there is a marker that does this, Molotow Aqua Twin markers are awesome for building up colour - basically watercolour markers with a nib on each end. Lots of different size and shapes of nibs too. Refillable.

mimirichman

Caliart's Alcohol Brush Art Markers are one of the greatest alternatives to Copic Markers that I've been watching since I first started coloring books. Its chisel helps me to fill in large areas quickly, while the brush tip allows me to work delicately around borders and streaks.